Mia Love loses Utah congressional race in upset

Mia Love, who was widely expected to become the first black female Republican congresswoman in history, has conceded a very close race to incumbent Democrat Jim Matheson in the 4th district of Utah.

“Congratulations to Jim on a hard-fought victory,” Love said in a statement. “It was a close race, but ultimately the voters of Utah have spoken. I want to thank the hundreds of volunteers and staff who worked tirelessly for my campaign, and am humbled by their dedication and commitment to the betterment of Utah and our nation. I plan on continuing to work on promoting conservative issues and look forward to returning to Saratoga Springs and spending more time with my family.”

A far right conservative Mormon, she scored a major speaking spot at the RNC in Tampa. She also attracted substantial funds from Republican donors and was largely favored to win the seat in the very red state of Utah.